their target populations, requires a general policy framework. That is

precisely the purpose of this document.

DIAGNOSIS

1. Women in Agrarian Production.

During the 1970's women's participation in agrarian production increased

in a substantial way, while men's rates of participation varied slightly (1).

It has been estimated that for 1980 there were 755.000 economically

active women in the rural sector, 63% of whom (almost 450.000) worked

directly in small production units. The main features of rural women's

participation are:

a. The overall rural women's participation rate increased from 16.5%

in 1971 to 27.7% in 1980 (2), coming very close to urban rates,

indicating important social and economic modifications in the

country.

b. Increases in women's economic participation were chanelled towards

the most backward occupational categories and by no means did they

(1) Increases in women's overall participation rate must still be affected by
traditional sub-registration of women's productive labour in the country, as
well as by underestimation of their economic contribution.

registered in cities during the same period (1). Family size has fallen

(1) There are still regional differences. Averages in the Central Region are
lower than those in the Pacific Coast.
Source: Ordonez, Myriam: An6lisis de de la Situaci6n de la Muier Cam-
pesina- CaracterTsticas Demogr6ficas de la Poblaci6n Rural. Universidad
Javeriana, F.E.I.